Lacing



April s ,A 1924. 1,489,311

H. H. CUMMINGS LACING Filed May l5. 1922 Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

HENRY H. CUIVIIv'IINGS, OF ISGS-TON, MASSACHUSETTS; IR-.VING C. DECATUR' A ND ESTHER CULMMINGS EXECUTOBS OF SAID HENRY H. CUMLIINGS, LDIICEASED.y

LACING.

Application led May 15,1922. Serial No. 560,936.

To all whom t may cof/mera.'

Be it known that I, HENRY H. CUMMiNes, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, inthe county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in a Lacing, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is an improved and novel form of lacing and lacing tip employing a metallic tip which can be readily,

firmly and easily applied to either tubular or y flat lacings.

In my prior application, Ser. No. 462,019, filed April 16, 1921, I have illustrated a novel form of lacing tip wherein a metallic tip memberwas employed which was adapted to be fitted within a'lace, and to have a portion of the metallic tip encircling about the outside of the lacing, as well, also, as forming a metallic point, and presenting a lacing tip with the metal both inside and outside and so applied as to be rmly interlocked with the fabric of the lace.

My present invention is an improvement in this type of metallic tip and lacing, but enables the same to be fitted much more simply, quickly and more economically than formerly, and to give a flush metallic pointed lacing tip, which is so firmly interlocked as to` be free of all danger of pulling ofi' or becoming dislodged.

Further features, novel combinations of parts and advantages will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiment of the invention, A

' Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of my improved blank, shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the blank of Fig. 1, illustrating the preferable concave-convex form;

Fig. 3 being an opposite end view; n

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the metallic blank applied to a tubular lace;

Fig. 5 being a sideview of the same;

Fig. 6 illustrates the preliminary bending action in incorporating the metal tip of the lace' 7 is a showing of the next step; and

Fig. 8 illustrates the completely tipped and pointed lace;

Fig. 9 illustrates the application of the tip to a fiat or ribbon lace; and Y leaving a recess 6. The head 5 has a pair of wing-like projections 7, 7, preferably extending beyond the line of theteeth 2 vor the shank 1. While the shank 1 is preferably given a concave shape in one direction,-to facilitate the rolling and interlocking of the lace and blank, the head 5 is giveiia corresponding concavity in a reverse direction, or atleast the wings 7 are bent, asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The tip as thus far described is of suitable form to `apply to and tip a fiat lacing, and

` the lace thus tipped is illustrated at Fig. 10,

and will be further described. However, I

prefer to form on the head 57a portion 10 which may be stamped out with the formation of the neck portions 4, 4, and space 6. This piece 10'will afford a metallic means to give a metal point to the lace and may be used or not as desired, according to whether or not a metallic tip or point is desired. With the bla-nk formed and slightly concaved as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I then apply the saine to a lace, Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, illustrating the same as applied to a tubular lace 12, having the blank within the open end of the tubular lace, as illustrated in dotted lines Figs. 4 and 5. Thereupon the head 5 and wings 7 are turned or clamped backwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6, thus allowing the reverse contour of the head 5 to it in with the same eonvexity and contour ofthe shank 1; the two portions, shank 1 and head 5, being originally conveXed in opposite directions in order to be thus conveXed in similar directions when the head 5 is doubled over, the reduced neck portions 4, 4, readily'permitting this action and in case the metallic tip 10 is utilized the latter will be thus brought upwardly and outwardly as shown in Fig. 6. The recess 6 between the necks 4, 4, permits a firm interlocking of the lace ends, as well as engagement of the saw teeth 2. Thereupon the end pointing piece 10 is. bent over, as shown in Fig. 7, and thereafter the entire shank, wings 7 and lace are subjected to a clamping action which rolls and interlocks the saine firmly and securely around the lacing, as illustrated in Fig. 8, giving a completely encircled metallic tip With metal point as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The reduced neck portions l allow the encircling head 5 and Wings 7 to fit snugly and flush with the rest of the lacing, so that the completely tipped metal part is flush With the rest of the lace in a manner similar to the construction shown in my said prior application.

YA duplicate arrangement is possible with a flat or ribbon lace, illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. In this form the ribbon lace 15 receives the shank, the head 5 is bent over, the ineinber l0 clamped in position and then the entire lace rolled or forced into rotund and interlocking engagement. Fig. 10 illustrates the tip applied to either a tubular or fiat lace Without the tongue or point member 10, the tipping action being identical Y except for omitting the folding over of the member 10.

It Will thus be seen that I have devised a. novel form of lace and tip blank therefor, Which can be stamped out at a single operation, readily concaved as a preliminary forming and tipping action, applied to a flat or ribbon lace, and firmly and immovably interlocked therewith by'a simple process and by any suitable clamp or machine, as Well es by hand.

The metal blank may be of extremely thin material, preferably of non-corrosive substance, such as brass, zinc or other alloy. The lacing is not only pointed but 1s protected and the fiush position of the encircling lacing, and interrolled With both lacing and metal.

2. A metallic blank for tipping slice laces or 'the like, comprising a shank portion, a neck portion having an opening therein, and a head, the shank being adapted to be interrolled With the lacing and the head being constructed for encircling the lace at the shank portion, said shank, neck and head portions being so proportioned as to enable the encircling metal of the head to lie flush with the encircling lacing on the shank.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisV specification.

HENRY H. CUMMINGS. 

